The skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening are of vital importance. Not only are they essential in almost all interaction in the adult world and future careers, they also underpin successful study at all levels. A proficiency in these literacy (and literary) skills will add immeasurably to an individual’s general quality of life.

All English courses delivered at Thorp Academy, at all key stages, are designed to encourage students to communicate successfully in the world around them and to be inspired, moved and changed by access to a range of challenging literature which offers students a view on human experience other than their own.

Key Stage 3 overview

The Key Stage 3 English course at Thorp Academy combines both the study of English Language and Literature through a range of exciting and interesting modules. Students are given the opportunity to explore all three genres of Literature – prose, poetry, and drama while in Year 7 and 8. Equally, students are also given encouragement to work as writers to further develop their technical literacy skills. Students are given opportunities to produce a range of creative and transactional texts for differing purposes and audiences. The Key Stage 3 course at Thorp is carefully designed to support students of all abilities to practise reading, writing, speaking and listening, as a foundation for further study at Key Stage 4.

Key Stage 4 overview

English is divided into two GCSEs, English Language and English Literature; with an additional separate certificate for Speaking and Listening.

AQA 8700 English Language:

The English Language GCSE course is built around two papers. Each paper has a Reading and Writing section.

Paper 1 Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

Section A: Students read and respond to unseen literary fiction.

Section B: Students write creatively, to describe or narrate.

Paper 2 Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

Section A: Students read two non-fiction texts, one from the C19th century and one contemporary piece. Students are asked to compare and evaluate the differences in the viewpoints offered.

Section B: Students offer their own viewpoints by writing to argue and persuade.

Speaking and Listening Endorsement:

Students are expected to write and deliver a speech on a topic of their own choice to a listening audience. Students are also expected to field a range of questions from their audience at the end of their presentation.

AQA 8702 English Literature:

The English Literature GCSE course is built around two papers. Students study a range of prose, poetry and drama, including:

Paper 1:

Shakespeare - Macbeth

Dickens - A Christmas Carol

Paper 2:

Priestley - An Inspector Calls

Poetry: ‘Power and Conflict’ Selection and an Unseen poetry section

Key Stage 5 overview

The English Department at Thorp Academy offer both A Level English Language and English Literature.

AQA 7702 A Level English Language:

Please be aware that Year 12 texts will be examined as part of the overall A Level terminal assessment at the end of Year 13.

Year 12: Language and Representation:

Language & Gender

Language & Occupation

Language & Social Groups

Accent & Dialect

Year 13: Language Change

An exploration of spoken and written English over time

Child Language Acquisition

Year 13: Non examined coursework response:

One Language investigation into topic of students’ own choosing

One piece of Original Writing

AQA 7717 Specification B A Level English Literature:

Please be aware that Year 12 texts will be examined as part of the overall A Level terminal assessment at the end of Year 13.